Vancouver City Council adds voice to growing opposition against twinning the Port Mann Bridge

June 14, 2006 -

VANCOUVER – Vancouver City Council’s decision to unanimously oppose the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 expansion signals a growing backlash against the provincial government’s controversial plan, said the David Suzuki Foundation.

“This is a huge victory for the future of the Lower Mainland,” said Ian Bruce, a climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. “Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon has said time and time again that only a few people are opposed to this project. That’s simply not true. Now that Vancouver City Council is lending its weight and leadership to the growing opposition against the twinned bridge and widened highway, it will make it harder for the province to push this project through.”

The B.C. government plans to spend $1.5 billion to twin the Port Mann Bridge and expand Highway 1 across Greater Vancouver. Last night, Vancouver City Council unanimously voted to oppose the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge. Instead, the city said the province should seek alternatives, such as rapid transit, an expanded SkyTrain and rapid bus service across the Port Mann Bridge.

“Investing in transit is a smarter, cheaper and more effective way to ease traffic congestion and protect our quality of life across the GVRD,” said Mr. Bruce. “Widening highways and bridges simply puts more cars on the road, exacerbating the current congestion problem.”

Mr. Bruce pointed out that no jurisdiction in North America has managed to solve its traffic problems by building larger roads – which instead lead to more urban sprawl and more traffic. However, investments in public transit and better urban planning will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as improve regional and local air quality, ease road congestion, and reduce both unproductive commuting time and municipal infrastructure costs.

Over the next two weeks, municipalities across the Lower Mainland will vote on the proposal.

Read the David Suzuki Foundation’s background document on the proposed Gateway project here.